Read excerpts from President Barack Obama's State of the Union address that could impact Detroit

President Barack Obama delivered a bold agenda Tuesday night that could affect Detroit and the rest of Southeast Michigan. Let us know what you thought about the State of the Union address in our comments section. Associated Press

DETROIT, MI - President Barack Obama presented Tuesday night details of his bold agenda in his State of the Union address that could make an impact in Detroit over the next four years.

Below is a look at some of the most detailed excerpts of his speech (and related topics) that could lead to some new programs, policies and decisions by Obama and the U.S. Congress that could affect the Motor City - for better or worse.

Give us your interpretation of the Obama speech excerpts in our comments section.

Small business growth, manufacturing, tax code simplicity

The American people deserve a
tax code that helps small businesses spend less time filling out
complicated forms, and more time expanding and hiring -- a tax code that
ensures billionaires with high-powered accountants can’t work the
system and pay a lower rate than their hardworking secretaries; a tax
code that lowers incentives to move jobs overseas, and lowers tax rates
for businesses and manufacturers that are creating jobs right here in
the United States of America.

Job creation in hard-hit manufacturing towns

Last year, we created our first manufacturing innovation institute in Youngstown, Ohio. A
once-shuttered warehouse is now a state-of-the art lab where new
workers are mastering the 3D printing that has the potential to
revolutionize the way we make almost everything. There’s no reason this can’t happen in other towns.

So
tonight, I’m announcing the launch of three more of these manufacturing
hubs, where businesses will partner with the Department of Defense and
Energy to turn regions left behind by globalization into global centers
of high-tech jobs.And I
ask this Congress to help create a network of 15 of these hubs and
guarantee that the next revolution in manufacturing is made right here
in America.

Infrastructure improvements that attract private investment

I propose a
“Fix-It-First” program to put people to work as soon as possible on our
most urgent repairs, like the nearly 70,000 structurally deficient
bridges across the country And to make sure taxpayers don’t shoulder the
whole burden, I’m also proposing a Partnership to Rebuild America that
attracts private capital to upgrade what our businesses need most:
modern ports to move our goods, modern pipelines to withstand a storm,
modern schools worthy of our children.

Improved housing finance options through a bill sitting in Congress

But even with mortgage rates near a 50-year low, too many families with solid credit who want to buy a home are being rejected.Too many families who never missed a payment and want to refinance are being told no.That’s holding our entire economy back.We need to fix it.

Right
now, there’s a bill in this Congress that would give every responsible
homeowner in America the chance to save $3,000 a year by refinancing at
today’s rates.Democrats and Republicans have supported it before, so what are we waiting for?Take a vote, and send me that bill.Why would we be against that?Why would that be a partisan issue, helping folks refinance?Right now, overlapping regulations keep responsible young families from buying their first home.What’s holding us back?Let’s streamline the process, and help our economy grow.

Primary and secondary eduction improvements, more affordable options

Four years ago, we started
Race to the Top -- a competition that convinced almost every state to
develop smarter curricula and higher standards, all for about 1 percent
of what we spend on education each year. Tonight,
I’m announcing a new challenge to redesign America’s high schools so
they better equip graduates for the demands of a high-tech economy. And
we’ll reward schools that develop new partnerships with colleges and
employers, and create classes that focus on science, technology,
engineering and math -- the skills today’s employers are looking for to
fill the jobs that are there right now and will be there in the future.

Proposal to raise minimum wage to $9 an hour

Tonight, let’s declare
that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, no one who works full-time
should have to live in poverty, and raise the federal minimum wage to
$9.00 an hour.We should be able to get that done.

This single step would raise the incomes of millions of working families. It could mean the difference between groceries or the food bank; rent or eviction; scraping by or finally getting ahead. For businesses across the country, it would mean customers with more money in their pockets. And a whole lot of folks out there would probably need less help from government. In fact, working folks shouldn’t have to wait year after year for the minimum wage to go up while CEO pay has never been higher.

More gun control oversight to help prevent crime

I know this is not the first time this country has debated how to reduce gun violence. But this time is different. Overwhelming
majorities of Americans -- Americans who believe in the Second
Amendment -- have come together around common-sense reform, like
background checks that will make it harder for criminals to get their
hands on a gun. Senators of both parties are working together on tough new laws to prevent anyone from buying guns for resale to criminals.

Police
chiefs are asking our help to get weapons of war and massive ammunition
magazines off our streets, because these police chiefs, they’re tired
of seeing their guys and gals being outgunned. Each of these proposals deserves a vote in Congress. Now, if you want to vote no, that’s your choice. But these proposals deserve a vote.